Germany Scores First: Ends Verizon Contract Over NSA Concerns

Not much can be said about this other than I'm surprised it took this long. When a countries most private communications are plundered by a foreign power there is bound to be some blow-back.

Germany Scores First: Ends Verizon Contract Over NSA Concerns

It appears Germany has come out swinging ahead of today's FIFA World Cup match:

*GERMANY ENDING VERIZON CONTRACT, CITING NSA: AP

The German government is canceling a contract with Verizon over fears the company could be letting U.S. intelligence agencies eavesdrop on official communications. The Interior Ministry says it will let its current contract for Internet services with the New York-based company expire in 2015. The announcement comes after reports this week that Verizon and British company Colt provide Internet services to the German parliament and other official entities.

Ministry spokesman Tobias Plate said Thursday that Germany wants to ensure it has full control over highly sensitive government communications networks. Verizon didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

No comment yet from Verizon, I wonder why. Maybe embarrassment for totally selling out their customers to the NSA. Hopefully this will be the start of a trend both punishing corporations for wrongdoing and putting more pressure on an out of control NSA.

a reply to: Bassago

I hope it was a big fat contract, that will cost Verizon a chunk of change. To lose a government contract is no small matter.

Maybe other Countries using Verizon will follow in Germany's steps. I can hear wailing from the halls of the NSA...

Des

At first I thought this was a World Cup thread!
I cant watch the game right now and thought you were giving me an update!

BTW, 0-0 at the half...

a reply to: Destinyone

I can hear wailing from the halls of the NSA...

Starting to sound like a chorus of misery when we add the screeching coming from Cisco and Microsoft. You'd have thought they would know better and put up more of a fight instead of enabling an intelligence agency that could damage their business models. Guess rich doesn't always mean smart.

a reply to: youdidntseeme

Ha, sorry about that.

a reply to: youdidntseeme

That was my thought when I first saw the title too...
Game highlights here

anyway, it's good plan to cut ties with US cell companies at least until they can give assurances that the NSA will not have access to their networks